Claek fishee



(No Model.)

0. FISHER.

RAILROAD TIE.

Patented Oct. 2, 1883.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

CLARK FISHER, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

RAILROAD-TIE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,986, dated October2, 1883.

" Application filed June 5, 1883. (1\'o model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARK FISHER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Trenton, New Jersey, have invented an Improvement inRailroad-Tics, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention, generally c011- sidered, is the constructionof a railroad tie or sleeper composed wholly of metal; and the specialobjects which I have in view are simplicity, durability, and economy.

In the accompanying drawings I have represented a preferred form of tieconveniently embodying my invention. 7

I11 the drawings, Figure 1 represents in side elevation a tie embodyingmy invention, the rails of a track which said tie aids to support beingshown in transverse sectional elevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe same parts. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a portion. of my tie.Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevational detail of a form 'of.railfastening which I find it convenient to employ in 'connection withthe tie, a portion of which latter is represented in oblique sectionalelevation. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a form of clip which I findit convenient to employ for fastening the rails to the tie.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

I take a plate, blank, or skelp, so to speak,

* of sheet-iron of the requisite texture, and

made by any well-known process, which has been previously cut to apredetermined length, according to the gageof the road, and to asuitable breadth, and by any suitable means retaining the end portionsflat, bend, compress, or turn the central portion down, so as to conformit to an inverted-U shape, which can be understood by reference to thedrawings, and especially to Fig. 3. This plate of sheet metal so asabove bent as to its cen tral portion and left with parallel planesurfaces for the support of the rails at its eX- trcmities constitutesmy tie, and is adapted to be laid directly upon any prepared roadloed,it seating itself by means of its flanged or scooped-out, so to speak,central portion directly upon and into the material of which theroad-bed is composed. The flanged or bent down portion insures verticalstiffness to aid in the support of the rails and prevents lateraldisplacement.

The tie so as above formed is, as to each of its extremities, providedwith two bolt-holes and with two clip-slots, which are preferably allaligned in a plane which is oblique to the longitudinal central axis ofthe tie, substan tially as shown in Fig. 3. Opposite inclinations aregiven to the opposite bolts, as shown in Fig. 2.

The rails are preferably secured by means of U bolts, the threadedshanks of which pro ject upwardly through the holes in the ties,

and also through holes in clips, preferably of the character representedin Fig. 5, which clips rest, as to one portion, upon the base of therail and as to the other extremity within the clip-slots in the tie. a

A convenient form of clip provided with a projecting boss adapted to theclip-slots in the tie is represented in Fig. 5, and in Fig. 4 is shown aU-bolt in place with respect to the tie, and retaining a rail inposition by means of clips applied to the tie and rails, and throughwhich clips the shanks of said bolt pass.

'I have in the drawings designated the tie by the letter A and itscentral flanged portion by the letter a. The rails are lettered B, theclips O, and the bosses of the clips, when the latter are formed with aboss, 0. The bolts are lettered D, the e1ip-slots in the tie aredesignated by the letter s, and the bolt-holes by the letters f.

It is of course possible for me to secure the rails to the tie by othermeans than the U- bolts represented, although I regard the latter as aconvenient fastening device.

The tie may be made of steel or of any desired sheet metal.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. As a new article ofmanufacture, a rail .road-tie formed of a plate or blank of sheet metalthe extremities of which are formed as parallel level planes, and thecentral portion of which is compressed upon itself, and to its sidesbent or flanged downward, so as to adapt the tie to seat itself upon theroad-bed, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a tie formed of a plate or blank of sheet metalthe extremities of which are formed as parallel level planes Intestimony whereof I have hereunto signed and the central portion ofwhich is compressed my name this 12th day of May, A. D. 1883. I0 uponitself, and as to its sides bent or flanged downward, so as to adapt thetie to seat itself CLARK FISHER. upon the road-bed, railroad-rails,clips adapted to said rails, and bolts passing through the tie Inpresence ofand retaining the clips against both the rails J. BONSALLTAYLOR,

and the tie, substantially as set forth. 'W. O. STRAWBRIDGE.

